"On Evangelism, Evangelicalism, Guilt, and Gospel"

 

“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged... Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces...In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." 

-Matthew 7:1(NASB)

"When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart."

- Matthew 13:19 (NIV)

"If Jesus Makes it into our daily behavior, observers will begin to think there might be something to this after all."

-Eugene Peterson, As Kingfishers Catch Fire, p. 307.

    It seems clear to me that God cares not just about what we do, but about the state of our heart as we do things. How we do them. For example, in Mt. 5:21, Jesus tells his followers that the person who is angry with their brother or sister is as guilty as a murderer. And that looking at a woman lustfully is already committing adultery—in your heart (5:27, 28). 

    But what happens when we flip that on its head, into the positive? As evangelicals we're told in sermons, Bible studies, and music to "spread the good news." Well, that's nice and vague. Sometimes we'll even get as specific as referencing the Great Commission. 'Make disciples of all nations.' Perhaps because of America's puritan founders, we quickly equate that with duty, guilt, the five spiritual laws, and tracts. We love to quote Mt. 10:32: "Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my father in heaven." Yikes! Gives you the shivers, doesn't it? Let's get out there knocking on doors! Should we have a plan? Should we prepare? Nah, just get moving!

    It is a duty. That's inarguable. Jesus clearly does tell us to spread his message. But when he first sends his own disciples out to do this, he advises them to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Mt. 10:16).  I think it's pretty safe to assume that being as 'shrewd as snakes' implies a bit of forethought.

    And if we refer to the passage I began with, he also tells his hearers to treat others the way they want to be treated. The "golden rule." We've all heard it literally thousands of times. If you want to be shown mercy, then show others mercy. If you want to be forgiven, you have to forgive. Get the log out of your own eye before you point out the splinter in your neighbor's eye. I would say it's not a stretch to say that if you want your own intelligence (i.e. the logic of the message you're sharing) to be respected, respect the intelligence of others. 

    So if we  combine these ideas a bit, we should be making disciples. We should use our brains. We should treat people the way we'd want to be treated. And the state of our hearts is more important than simply doing things in a perfunctory way in order to cross them off a list. 

    A perfect example of what I'm getting at popped up on a friend's Instagram the other day. She was at the grocery store. And right there among the baby wipes, somebody had left a tract—"How do I get to heaven?". I can only guess at the circumstances, but I think that you'll agree, this is haphazard checklist "evangelism" at its finest.   "Hey, I spread the seed, God! YOU lead the right person to it!" 

    But did we, really? The problem is, even if this was found by the perfect spiritual seeker (and I'm not even getting into the pandemic and how foolish it would be to pick up a random piece of paper and study it), the person who finds it doesn't have anybody to explain its message. Maybe it has a 1-800 number on the back, but what do you suppose the chances are of somebody actually calling that number, even if they are interested? You could just as easily say they could go to any church and ask questions. And while that's technically true, but do you understand what a high hurdle that is? Perhaps, if you were a total extrovert and absolutely loved talking to strangers, you MIGHT show up at a random church and ask somebody to explain the gospel. But how many people do you know who are that outgoing?

    The thing is, that's not making disciples. It's not using our brains. And it's certainly not treating others the way we'd want to be treated. In fact, if I didn't know otherwise, I'd suggest that these half-hearted efforts are actually intended to fail. It's fitting that this was left on a grocery store shelf, because it's the evangelism equivalent of that store's baked goods. Are their cupcakes edible? Sure. But are they the real thing? We all know they're not even close.

   The question I'm really getting at is, do we honestly care if Jesus' message is shared? Do we act as if we actually have good news to tell people? Or do we just want to get it over with? Back to the cupcakes, are we throwing a party at the office and want to put forth as little effort as possible, or do we actually love the person we're celebrating and want them to have the best? And how does that hold up under the tests we started off with? Does our heart really want to share the gospel? Or does our guilty conscience just want to get a required duty over with?

    Some might reply with the parable of the sower. Who are we to choose where seeds are sown? We just throw it out and some falls on rocky soil, some among weeds, etc. etc. And that's true. But I think we also have to be mindful of turning people against the gospel. It's fine if we scatter seeds helter-skelter onto rocks and into thorns, but what is less acceptable is to salt the ground so that nothing can grow there. To  offer an incomplete, inaccurate, "poorly made" taste of Christianity, so they'll be less likely to understand the true message when the time is right. Certainly, the Holy Spirit can and does cut through walls. But do you really want to be the one building them? 

    If I want to get somebody interested in mountain biking, I carefully think about where I want to take them. I want them to enjoy themselves. To experience a little bit of rocks and roots. But not so much that they don't want to try it again. Now, they've lived their own life and have their own reasons why they may or may not enjoy the sport. It's not really within my power to MAKE them become a mountain biker. But if I don't think ahead, it is certainly possible to take them on a ride that's frightening,  uncomfortable, or—if I was a total jerk—painful enough that they're quite a bit more unlikely to ever try it again. BUT WHY WOULD I DO THAT? 

    Others might say it is not our place to choose the time to share. That we're commanded to share always, and let God have what effects he will on a person's heart. I respect the divine sovereignty inherent in that view, but I would reply by asking why God gave us minds. That's certainly being as innocent as doves, but how is it being as shrewd as snakes? Which brings me back once again to the original question: do you actually want people to understand the good news? Or is this just some half-hearted promise you made to a friend that you don't really want to go through with? "Sure, okay, I'll take them on a ride—but I can't promise they'll enjoy it."

Because here's the thing: if that's the case, maybe it's better if you don't do it at all.